The Role Attitudes, Perceptions, and Imagined Communities Play in Identity (Re)Construction of English Language Learners at Ohio University A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Keith R. Ray May 2015 © 2015 Keith R Ray. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled The Role Attitudes, Perceptions, and Imagined Communities Play in Identity (Re)Construction of English Language Learners at Ohio University by KEITH R. RAY has been approved for the Department of Linguistics and the College of Arts and Sciences by Peter Githinji Associate Professor of Linguistics Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT RAY, KEITH R., M.A., May 2015, Linguistics The Role Attitudes, Perceptions, and Imagined Communities Play in Identity (Re)Construction of English Language Learners at Ohio University Director of Thesis: Peter Githinji This thesis examines the role that imagined communities play in the language learning process for learners of English immersed in the United States. Research regarding the imagined communities of English language learners has not focused on students enrolled in an intensive English language program in the United States. In addition, the majority of such research concentrates on adolescent learners of English after they have become immersed within the target language and target language culture. This study focuses on the imagined communities of 15 female learners of English enrolled in an intensive English program in the United States. The participants represent cultural groups from Brazil, China, and Saudi Arabia. Data was collected via questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and a semi-structured focus group interview. The results suggest that attitudes and perceptions regarding the target language and target language culture are critical to the learners’ conceptions of imagined communities. 4 DEDICATION To Michelle 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I express my gratitude to Dr. Peter Githinji, the head of this thesis committee, and to Dr. Christopher Thompson and Dr. Ludmila Marchenkova, both of whom were members of this thesis committee. I especially thank Dr. Githinji for his patience, suggestions, and insightful discussions. I thank Dr. Marchenkova for helping me realize my passion for this topic and the countless hours that she has happily spent fostering my development. I thank Dr. Thompson for sharing his knowledge and insight from an anthropological background. My committee’s support and guidance throughout this research process was invaluable. I thank them for their commitment, time, and energy. I also express my thanks and gratitude to all of the subjects who participated in this study. This research would not have been possible without your honesty and willingness to share your thoughts and experiences with me. Getting to know you and your experiences was the highlight of this journey. I would also like to thank my family, especially my mother and father, for all of their support and encouragement throughout my life. Last but not least, I thank my wife Michelle, for her unwavering support and belief in me. Words are unable to adequately express your impact and my gratitude for all that you do. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication ........................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... 5 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................ 12 1.3 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 14 1.4 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 15 1.5 Definition of Key Terms ......................................................................................... 15 1.5.1 Identity ............................................................................................................. 15 1.5.2 Imagination ...................................................................................................... 16 1.5.3 Community ....................................................................................................... 17 1.5.4 Community of Practice ................................................................................... 17 1.5.5 Imagined Communities ................................................................................... 18 1.6 Organization of the Thesis ...................................................................................... 19 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 20 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 20 2.2 Poststructuralist Principles of Language ................................................................. 20 2.3 Poststructuralist Principles of Subjectivity ............................................................. 23 2.4 Identity .................................................................................................................... 24 2.5 Identity and Imagined Communities ....................................................................... 26 2.6 Language, Gender, Culture, and Identity ................................................................ 30 2.7 Saudi Arabian Learners of English ......................................................................... 37 2.8 Chinese Learners of English ................................................................................... 44 2.9 Brazilian Learners of English ................................................................................. 48 Chapter 3: Method ............................................................................................................ 53 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 53 7 3.2 Method of Data Collection ..................................................................................... 53 3.2.1 Questionnaires .................................................................................................. 53 3.2.2 Semi-Structured Interviews .............................................................................. 54 3.2.3 Semi-Structured Focus Group Interviews ........................................................ 54 3.3 Participants .............................................................................................................. 55 3.3.1 Questionnaire Participants ............................................................................... 55 3.3.2 Semi-Structured Interview Participants ........................................................... 56 3.3.3 Semi-Structured Focus Group Interview Participants ..................................... 57 3.4 Instruments .............................................................................................................. 58 3.4.1 Questionnaire ................................................................................................... 58 3.4.2 Semi-Structured Interview ............................................................................... 59 3.4.3 Semi-Structured Focus Group Interview ......................................................... 60 3.5 Procedure ................................................................................................................ 60 3.6 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 4: Results and Discussion .................................................................................... 65 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 65 4.2 Attitudes and Perceptions of Brazilian Women ...................................................... 68 4.3 Attitudes and Perceptions of Saudi Women ........................................................... 79 4.4 Attitudes and Perceptions of Chinese Women ....................................................... 89 Chapter 5: Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 101 References ....................................................................................................................... 110 Appendix A: Student Questionniare #1 .......................................................................... 119 Appendix B: Semi-Structured Individual Interivew ....................................................... 123 Appendix C: Student Questionniare #2 .........................................................................